Chennai Super Kings (AP Photo)
Former Indian batsman Ambati Rayudu believes Chennai Super Kings The field lacked calm and experienced heads during their heavy seven-wicket defeat against Lucknow Supergiants on Friday, especially when the young pacer came under the brunt of Anshul Kamboj’s relentless onslaught. Mitchell Marsh And Nicholas Puran. CSK’s bowling attack had no answer as LSG chased down 188 runs in just 16.4 overs at the Ekna Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The night became particularly difficult for Cambodia, who were hit by Mitchell Marsh for four consecutive sixes in one over, before Nicholas Pooran repeated the same attack later in the innings. The young pacer eventually finished with figures of 0/63 in 2.4 overs. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out Show after the match, Rayudu said CSK lacked senior players in the field who could help Cambodia bounce back during a brutal spell. “I feel towards CSK, when you see them on the ground, there are not a lot of smart heads or experienced heads, players who can just control the game, who can go and pat him and say, ‘Boss, just wait, wait for ten seconds, tie your laces’,” Rayudu said. The former CSK batsman felt that someone was needed to break the rhythm of Kamboj’s negative thoughts as the attack unfolded. Rayudu added that wicketkeeper Sanju Samson was too far away from the action to make an immediate impact in this moment of pressure. “Maybe ask him, ‘Do you think the slower ball can work? Do you think we can bowl a yorker now?’ Just change his train of thought. Don’t let it get lost in the moment,” he added. Despite the nightmare outing, Rayudu defended the youngster and insisted that Kamboj only faced two batsmen performing at an exceptional level. “The guy has been bowling so well all season, you’ll have a bad day, it’s like getting a duck or a golden duck. If you look at the balls he bowled, except for the last ball of that over which was down the leg side, most of them were good balls. It was just unbelievable hitting,” he said. The target was chased down by Marsh’s explosive 90 off just 38 balls, an innings studded with seven sixes and nine fours. The Australian burst into the CSK attack from the start and reached his half-century in just 21 balls. His most devastating spell came in the fifth over when he hammered Kamboj for four consecutive sixes and a boundary, scoring 28 runs in the over as LSG reached 67/0 after five overs. Marsh and Josh Inglis added a formidable opening partnership of 135 runs that effectively sealed the contest within the Powerplay, with LSG reaching 86/0 after six overs and 124/0 after 10 overs. Although CSK pulled things back briefly with the wickets of Inglis and Marsh in successive balls, Pooran ensured there was no collapse. With 24 runs needed in the last four overs, the left-hander unleashed another ferocious onslaught on Kamboj, hitting four consecutive sixes to end the chase in style. Earlier, CSK scored 187/5 after a useful partnership from Karthik Sharma, who scored 71 runs, and Shiv Dubey, who remained not out on 32 runs. The defeat has left Chennai Super Kings sixth on the IPL 2026 points table with 12 points from 12 matches, having won and lost six matches.
